R657-62 – Drawing Application Procedures

R657-62-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under authority of Sections 23-14-18 and 23-14-19, the Wildlife Board has established this rule for drawing applications and procedures.

(2) Specific season dates, bag and possession limits, areas open, number of permits and other administrative details that may change annually are published in the respective guidebooks of the Wildlife Board.

R657-62-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2.

(2) In addition:

(a)"Application" means a form required by the Division which must be completed by a person and submitted to the Division in order to apply for a hunting permit.

(b) "Landowner" means any individual, family or corporation who owns property in Utah and whose name appears on the deed as the owner of eligible property or whose name appears as the purchaser on an executed contract for sale of eligible property.

(c) "Limited entry hunt" means any hunt listed in the hunt tables published by the Wildlife Board and is identified as a premium limited entry hunt or limited entry hunt. "Limited entry hunt" does not include cougar pursuit or bear pursuit.

R657-62-3. Scope of Rule.

(1) This rule sets forth the procedures and requirements for completing and filing applications to receive the following hunting permits and/or certificates of registrations:

(a) Dedicated Hunter certificate of registrations;

(b) limited-entry deer;

(c) limited-entry elk;

(d) limited-entry pronghorn;

(e) once-in-a-lifetime;

(f) public cooperative wildlife management unit;

(g) general season deer and youth elk;

(h) limited entry bear;

(i) bear pursuit;

(j) antlerless big game;

(k) sandhill crane;

(l) sharp-tail and greater sage grouse;

(m) swan

(n) cougar;

(o) sportsman; and

(p) turkey.

R657-62-4. Residency Restrictions.

(1) Only a resident may apply for or obtain a resident permit or resident certificate of registration and only a nonresident may apply for or obtain a nonresident permit or nonresident certificate of registration.

(2)(a) To apply for a resident permit or certificate of registration, a person must be a resident at the time of purchase.

(b) The posting date of the drawing shall be considered the purchase date of a permit or certificate of registration issued through a drawing.

R657-62-5. Hunting on Private Lands

(1) Any person who applies for a hunt that occurs on private land is responsible for obtaining written permission from the landowner to access the property. The division does not guarantee access and cannot restore lost opportunity, bonus points, or permit fees when access is denied. Hunters should contact private landowners for permission to access their land prior to applying for a permit. The Division does not have the names of landowners where hunts occur.

R657-62-6. Applications.

(1)(a) Applications are available at the division's internet address, and must be completed and submitted online by the date prescribed in the respective guidebook of the Wildlife Board.

(b) The permit fees and handling fees must be paid with a valid debit or credit card.

(c) Any license, permit or certificate of registration issued to a person is invalid where full payment is not remitted to and received by the division.

(d) A person who applies for or obtains a permit or certificate of registration must notify the division of any change in mailing address, residency, telephone number, email address, and physical description.

R657-62-7. Group Applications.

(1) When applying as a group all applicants in the group with valid applications and who are eligible to possess the permit or certificate of registration applied for shall receive a permit or certificate of registration where the group is successful in the drawing.

(2) Group members must apply for the same hunt choices.

(3) When applying as a group, if the available permit or certificate of registration quota is not large enough to accommodate the group size, the group application will not be considered.

R657-62-8. Bonus Points.

(1) Bonus points are used to improve odds for drawing permits.

(2)(a) A bonus point is awarded for:

(i) each valid unsuccessful application when applying for limited-entry permits; or

(b) The division shall retain copies of electronic applications from 2000 to the current applicable drawings for the purpose of researching preference point records.

(c) Any requests for researching an applicant's preference point records must be submitted within the time frames provided in Subsection (b).

(d) Any preference points on the division's records shall not be researched beyond the time frames provided in Subsection (b).

(e) The division may eliminate any preference point obtained by fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or in violation of law.

R657-62-10. Dedicated Hunter Preference Points.

(1) Preference points are used in the dedicated hunter certificate of registration drawing to ensure that applicants who are unsuccessful in the drawing will have first preference in the next year's drawing.

(2) A preference point is awarded for:

(a) each valid unsuccessful application;

(b) each valid application when applying only for a preference point in the dedicated hunter drawing.

(3)(a) A person may not apply in the drawing for both a preference point and a certificate of registration.

(b) A person may not apply for a preference point if that person is ineligible to apply for a certificate of registration.

(4) Preference points are forfeited if a person obtains a certificate of registration through the drawing.

(5)(a) Preference points are not transferable.

(b) Preference points shall only be applied to the Dedicated Hunter drawing.

(6) Preference points are averaged and rounded down to the nearest whole point when two or more applicants apply together on a group application.

(b) The division shall retain copies of electronic applications from 2011 to the current applicable drawing for the purpose of researching preference point records.

(c) Any requests for researching an applicant's preference point records must be requested within the time frames provided in Subsection (b).

(d) Any preference points on the division's records shall not be researched beyond the time frames provided in Subsection (b).

(e) The division may eliminate any preference points earned that are obtained by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.

R657-62-11. Corrections, Withdrawals and Resubmitting Applications.

(1) (a) If an error is found on the application, the applicant may be contacted for correction.

(b) The division reserves the right to correct or reject applications.

(2)(a) An applicant may withdraw their application from the permit or certificate of registration drawing by the date published in the respective guidebook of the Wildlife Board.

(b) An applicant may resubmit their application, after withdrawing a previous application, for the permit or certificate of registration drawing by the date published in the respective guidebook of the Wildlife Board.

(c) Handling fees, hunting or combination license fees and donations will not be refunded. Resubmitted applications will incur a handling fee.

(3) To withdraw an entire group application, all applicants must withdraw their individual applications.

R657-62-12. Drawing Results.

Drawing results will be made available by the date prescribed in the respective guidebook of the Wildlife Board.

(1) Unsuccessful applicants will not be charged for a permit or certificate of registration.

(2) The handling fees and hunting or combination license fees are nonrefundable.

(3) All license, permit, certificate of registration and handling fees must be paid with a valid debit or credit card.

R657-62-14. Permits Remaining after the Drawing.

(1) Any permits remaining after the drawing are available on the date published in the respective guidebook of the Wildlife Board on a first-come, first-served basis from division offices, participating license agents and through the division's internet site.

R657-62-15. Waiting Periods for permits obtained after the drawing.

(1) Waiting periods do not apply to the purchase of remaining permits sold over the counter except as provided in Section 2.

(2) Waiting periods are incurred as a result of purchasing remaining permits after the drawing. If a remaining permit is purchased in the current year, waiting periods will be in effect when applying in the drawing in following years.

R657-62-16. Dedicated Hunter Certificates of Registration.

(1) (a) Applicants for a dedicated hunter certificate of registration must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in rule R657-38.

(b) Each prospective participant must complete Dedicated Hunter program orientation course annually before submitting an application.

(2) Group applications are accepted. Up to four applicants may apply as a group.

(i) A person must possess or obtain a valid hunting or combination license to apply for or obtain a big game permit.

(ii) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in rule R657-5.

(iii) A person may obtain only one permit per species of big game, including limited entry, cooperative wildlife management unit, once-in-a-lifetime, conservation, landowner and general permits, except antlerless permits as provided in the Antlerless Addendum and permits as provided in Rule R657-42.

(b) A resident may apply in the big game drawing for the following permits:

(c) A nonresident may apply in the big game drawing for the following permits:

(i) all of the following:

(A) buck deer -limited entry;

(B) bull elk - limited entry;

(C) buck pronghorn - limited entry; and

(D) all once-in-a-lifetime species.

(ii) Nonresidents may not apply for cooperative management units through the big game drawing.

(d) A resident or nonresident may apply in the big game drawing by unit for:

(i) a statewide general archery buck deer permit; or

(ii) for general any weapon buck deer; or

(iii) for general muzzleloader buck deer; or

(iv) a dedicated hunter certificate of registration.

(2) Youth

(a) For purposes of this section "youth" means any person 17 years of age or younger on July 31.

(b) Youth applicants who apply for a general buck deer permit

(i) will automatically be considered in the youth drawing based upon their birth date.

(ii) 20% of general buck deer permits in each unit are reserved for youth hunters.

(iii) Up to four youth may apply together for youth general deer permits.

(iv) Preference points shall be used when applying.

(v) Any reserved permits remaining and any youth applicants who were not selected for reserved permits shall be returned to the general buck deer drawing.

(c) Youth applicants who apply for a managment buck deer permit

(i) will automatically be considered in the youth drawing based upon their birth date.

(ii) 30% of management buck deer permits in each unit are reserved for youth hunters.

(iii) Bonus points shall be used when applying

(iv) Any reserved permits remaining and any youth applicants who were not selected for reserved permits shall be returned to the management buck deer drawing.

(3) Senior

(a) For purposes of this section "senior" means any person 65 years of age or older on the opening day of the management buck deer archery season published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(b) Senior applicants who apply for a management buck deer permit

(i) will automatically be considered in the senior drawing based upon their birth date.

(ii) 30% of management buck deer permits in each unit are reserved for senior hunters.

(iii) Bonus points shall be used when applying.

(c) Any reserved permits remaining and any senior applicants who were not selected for reserved permits shall be returned to the management buck deer drawing.

(4) Drawing Order

(a) Permits for the big game drawing shall be drawn in the following order:

(c) If any permits listed in Subsection (a)(i) through (a)(iii) remain after the big game drawing after all choices have been evaluated separately for residents and nonresidents, a second evaluation will be done allowing cross-over usage of remaining resident and nonresident permit quotas.

(5) Groups

(a) Limited Entry

(i) Up to four people may apply together for limited entry deer, elk or pronghorn; or resident cooperative wildlife management unit permits.

(b) Group applications are not accepted for management buck deer or bull elk permits.

(c) Group applications are not accepted for Once-in-a-lifetime permits.

(d) General season

(i) Up to four people may apply together for general deer permits

(ii) Up to two youth may apply together for youth general any bull elk permits.

(iii) Up to four youth may apply together for youth general deer permits.

(6) Waiting Periods

(a) Deer waiting period.

(i) Any person who draws or obtains a limited entry, management or cooperative wildlife management unit buck deer permit through the big game drawing process may not apply for or receive any of these permits again for a period of two seasons.

(ii) A waiting period does not apply to:

(A) general archery, general any weapon, general muzzleloader, conservation, sportsman, poaching-reported reward permits; or

(i) Any person who draws or obtains a limited entry, management or cooperative wildlife management unit bull elk permit through the big game drawing process may not apply for or receive any of these permits for a period of five seasons.

(ii) A waiting period does not apply to:

(A) general archery, general any weapon, general muzzleloader, conservation, sportsman, poaching-reported reward permits; or

(i) Any person who draws or obtains a buck pronghorn or cooperative wildlife management unit buck pronghorn permit through the big game drawing may not apply for or receive any of these permits thereafter for a period of two seasons.

(i) Any person who draws or obtains a permit for any bull moose, bison, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep or Rocky Mountain goat may not apply for or receive an once-in-a-lifetime permit for the same species in the big game drawing or sportsman permit drawing.

(ii) A person who has been convicted of unlawfully taking a once-in-a-lifetime species may not apply for or obtain a permit for that species.

(e) Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit and landowner permits.

(i) Waiting periods and once-in-a-lifetime restrictions do not apply to purchasing limited entry landowner or cooperative wildlife management unit permits obtained through a landowner, except as provided in Subsection (ii).

(ii) Waiting periods are incurred and applied for the purpose of applying in the big game drawing as a result of obtaining a cooperative wildlife management unit bull moose permit through a landowner.

R657-62-19. Black Bear.

(1) Permit and Pursuit Applications.

(a) A person must possess or obtain a valid hunting or combination license in order to apply for or obtain a limited entry bear permit or bear pursuit permit.

(b) A person may not apply for or obtain more than one bear permit distributed pursuant to this rule within the same calendar year.

(c) Limited entry bear permits are valid only for the hunt unit and for the specified season designated on the permit.

(d)(i) Applicants may select up to three hunt unit choices when applying for limited entry bear permits. Hunt unit choices must be listed in order of preference.

(ii) Applicants must specify in the application a specific season for their limited entry or bear pursuit permit.

(e) Any person intending to use bait during their bear hunt must obtain a certificate of registration as provided in Sections R657-33-13 and 14.

(f) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in Sections 23-19-22.5, 23-19-11 and 23-20-20.

(2) Group applications are not accepted.

(3) Waiting periods.

(a) Any person who obtains a limited entry bear permit through the division drawing, may not apply for a permit thereafter for a period of two years.

(4) A person must complete a mandatory orientation course prior to applying for any bear permit offered through a division drawing or obtaining bear permits as described in R657-33-3(5).

R657-62-20. Antlerless Species.

(1) Permit Applications.

(a) A person must possess or obtain a valid hunting or combination license in order to apply for or obtain an antlerless permit.

(b) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in rule R657-5.

(c) A person may apply in the drawing for and draw the following permits, except as provided in Subsection (d):

(i) antlerless deer;

(ii) antlerless elk;

(iii) doe pronghorn; and

(iv) antlerless moose, if available.

(d) Any person who has obtained a buck pronghorn permit or a bull moose permit may not apply in the same year for a doe pronghorn permit or antlerless moose permit, respectively, except for permits remaining after the drawing as provided in R657-62-15.

(e) Applicants may select up to five hunt choices when applying for antlerless deer, antlerless elk and antlerless pronghorn.

(f) Applicants may select up to two hunt choices when applying for antlerless moose.

(g) Hunt unit choices must be listed in order of preference.

(h) A person may not submit more than one application in the antlerless drawing per species.

(2) Youth applications.

(a) For purposes of this section, "youth" means any person 17 years of age or younger on July 31.

(c) Youth applicants who apply for an antlerless deer, elk, or doe pronghorn permit as provided in this Subsection, will automatically be considered in the youth drawing based upon their birth date.

(3) Drawing Order

(a) Permits are drawn in the order listed in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(b) Any reserved permits remaining and any youth applicants who were not selected for reserved permits shall be returned to the antlerless drawing.

(c) If permits remain after all choices have been evaluated separately for residents and nonresidents, a second evaluation will be done allowing cross-over usage of remaining resident and nonresident permit quotas.

(4) Group Applications

(a) Up to four hunters can apply together for antlerless deer, antlerless elk and doe pronghorn

(b) Group applications are not accepted for antlerless moose.

(c) Youth hunters who wish to participate in the youth drawing must not apply as a group.

(5) Waiting Periods

(a) Antlerless moose waiting period.

(i) Any person who draws or obtains an antlerless moose permit or a cooperative wildlife management unit antlerless moose permit through the antlerless drawing process, may not apply for or receive an antlerless moose permit thereafter for a period of five seasons.

(ii) A waiting period does not apply to cooperative wildlife management unit antlerless moose permits obtained through the landowner.

R657-62-21. Sandhill Crane, Sharp-Tailed and Greater Sage Grouse.

(1) Permit applications.

(a) A person may obtain only one Sandhill Crane permit each year.

(b ) A hunting or combination license is required when taking Sandhill Crane, Sharp-Tailed and Greater Sage Grouse and may be purchased when applying for the permit.

(c) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in Utah Code 23-19-24, 23-19-11 and 23-20-20.

(d) Applicants may select up to four hunt choices. Hunt unit choices must be listed in order of preference.

(2) Youth applications.

(a) For purposes of this section, "youth" means any person 17 years of age or younger on July 31for the purpose of obtaining Sharp-tailed grouse and Greater Sage grouse permits, and 15 years of age or younger on the Youth Waterfowl hunt, as posted in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking upland game and turkey, for the purpose of obtaining a Sandhill Crane permit.

(c) Youth applicants who apply for a Sandhill Crane, Sharp-tailed grouse or Greater sage grouse permit as provided in this Subsection, will automatically be considered in the youth drawing based upon their birth date.

(3) Group Applications

(a) Up to four people may apply together.

(b) Youth hunters who wish to participate in the youth drawing must not apply as a group.

(4) Waiting Periods do not apply.

R657-62-22. Swan.

(1) Permit applications.

(a) A person may obtain only one swan permit each year.

(i) A person may not apply more than once annually.

(b) A Utah hunting or combination license is required when hunting Swan and may be purchased when applying for the permit.

(c) The division shall issue no more than the number of swan permits authorized by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service each year.

(i) The division may withhold up to 1% of the authorized number of swan permits each year to correct division errors, which may occur during the drawing process.

(ii) Division errors may be corrected using the withheld swan permits in accordance with the Division Error Remedy Rule R657-50.

(iii) Withheld swan permits shall be used to correct division errors reported to or discovered by the division on or before the fifth day preceding the opening day of the swan hunt.

(iv) Withheld swan permits remaining after correcting any division errors shall be issued prior to the opening day of the swan hunt to the next person on the alternate drawing list.

(d) A person must complete a one-time orientation course before applying for a swan permit, except as provided under Subsection R657-9-6 (3) (b).

(i) Remaining swan permits available for sale shall be issued only to persons having previously completed the orientation course.

(e) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in Utah Code 23-19-24, 23-19-11 and 23-20-20.

(2) Youth applications.

(a) For purposes of this section, "youth" means any person 15 years of age or younger on the Youth Waterfowl Day hunt as posted in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking waterfowl.

(b) Fifteen percent of the Swan permits are reserved for youth hunters.

(c) Youth who apply for a swan permit will automatically be considered in the youth permit drawing based on their birth date.

(3) Group applications.

(a) Up to four people may apply together in a Group Application.

(b) Youth hunters who wish to participate in the youth drawing must not apply as a group.

(4) Waiting period does not apply.

R657-62-23. Cougar.

(1) Permit Applications

(a) A person must possess or obtain a valid hunting or combination license to apply for or obtain a cougar limited entry permit.

(b) A person may not apply for or obtain more than one cougar permit for the same year.

(c) Limited entry cougar permits are valid only for the limited entry management unit and for the specified season provided in the hunt tables of the proclamation of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(d) Applicants may select up to three management unit choices when applying for limited entry cougar permits. Management unit choices must be listed in order of preference.

(e) If permits remain after all choices have been evaluated separately for residents and nonresidents, a second evaluation shall be done allowing cross-over usage of remaining resident and nonresident permit quotas.

(f) Any limited entry cougar permit purchased after the season opens is not valid until seven days after the date of purchase.

(g) Applicants must meet all age requirements, proof of hunter education requirements and youth restrictions as provided in Utah Code 23-19-22.5, 23-19-11 and 23-20-20.

(2) Group applications are not accepted.

(3) Waiting periods.

(a) Any person who draws or purchases a limited entry cougar permit valid for the current season may not apply for a permit thereafter for a period of three seasons.

(b) Waiting periods are not incurred as a result of purchasing cougar harvest objective permits.

R657-62-24. Sportsman.

(1) Permit applications.

(a) One sportsman permit is offered to residents for each of the following species:

(i) desert bighorn (ram);

(ii) bison (hunter's choice);

(iii) buck deer;

(iv) bull elk;

(v) Rocky Mountain bighorn (ram);

(vi) Rocky Mountain goat (hunter's choice);

(vii) bull moose;

(viii) buck pronghorn;

(ix) black bear;

(x) cougar; and

(xi) wild turkey.

(b) Bonus points shall not be awarded or utilized when applying for or obtaining sportsman permits.

(2) Group applications are not accepted.

(3) Waiting Periods

(a) Any person who applies for or obtains a Sportsman Permit is subject to all waiting periods and exceptions as applicable to the species pursuant to rule R657-41.

(b) Once-in-lifetime waiting periods

(i) If you have obtained a once-in-a-lifetime permit through the sportsman drawing you are ineligible to apply for that once-in-a-lifetime species through the big game drawing.

(ii) If you have obtained a once-in-a-lifetime permit through the big game drawing you are ineligible to apply for that once-in-a-lifetime species through the sportsman drawing.

(ii) Waiting period will not be incurred for receipt of a Sportsman deer, elk, pronghorn, bear or cougar.

R657-62-25. Turkey.

(1) Permit applications.

(a) A person must possess a valid hunting or combination license in order to apply for or obtain a wild turkey permit.

(b) A person may obtain only one limited entry or general spring wild turkey permit each year. A person may obtain wild turkey conservation permits in addition to obtaining one limited entry or spring wild turkey permit as well as a fall general season permit.

(c) Applicants may select up to five hunt choices when applying for limited entry turkey permits. Hunt unit choices must be listed in order of preference.

(d) A turkey permit allows a person, using any legal weapon as provided in Section R657-54-7, to take one bearded turkey within the area and season specified on the permit.

(2) Group applications.

(a) Up to four people may apply together in a Group Application.

(b) Youth hunters who wish to participate in the youth drawing must not apply as a group.

(3) Waiting period does not apply.

(4) Youth permits

(a) Up to 15 percent of the limited entry permits and fall general season permits are available to youth hunters.

(b) For purposes of this section "youth" means any person who is 17 years of age or younger on July 31.

(c) Youth who apply for a turkey permit will automatically be considered in the youth permit drawing based on their birth date.

(d) Bonus points shall be used when applying for youth turkey permits.

(e) Youth who are successful in obtaining a limited entry turkey permit but unsuccessful in harvesting a bird during the limited entry hunt season, may use the limited entry turkey permit to participate in the youth 3-day turkey hunt and the spring general season turkey hunt provided no more than one bird is harvested.